Do you want to sound like an English learner or like an English speaker?
If you want to sound like an English speaker,
do NOT mispronounce these words!
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Today, we're talking about 12 words
that are commonly mispronounced by English language learners.
Many people get these words wrong.
But if you learn how to say them correctly,
you will automatically sound a lot more like a native English speaker.
So let's begin!
Here's Number 1...
Say this word out loud.
How did you say it?
Sometimes English learners say /an-swer/.
But in this case the "w" is silent.
So don't worry about the "w," don't think about the "w."
Just pretend it's not there.
And you would say the word like this...
Say it with me!
See...easy! You just don't say the "w."
Number 2...is debt.
And this word is similar because it
also has another silent letter..."b."
So yes, the "b" is there.
And we can't get rid of it.
But we don't have to say it.
Okay, so say it with me.
See. It's easy!
Number 3 - receipt
This is another word in which silent letters get learners in trouble.
When we say this word, we don't hear the "p."
So say it with me.
Number 4...and this is a difficult one - recipe
So many English learners get this one wrong.
I think it's because of the word stress.
I've heard the word /ree-seep/ many times,
but we actually pronounce it...
Let's say it together.
Done.
Number 5 - comfortable
It's not /kuhm-for-tay-buhl/.
But /kuhmf-tuh-buhl/.
Say it with me.
Good job!
Number 6 - hierarchy
This is a word that I had trouble with when I was learning English.
So I understand if you think it's difficult to pronounce.
The way I was saying it, which is wrong, is /heer-ar-kee/.
So it's not /heer-ar-kee/, it's /hahy-uh-rahr-kee/.
Say it with me.
Good.
Number 7 - suite
This is another challenging word for English learners
because it looks kind of like "suit."
Like the suit you wear.
But...it's not.
It's a room. It's a suite.
Let's say it together.
Wonderful.
Number 8 - colonel
This word completely baffled me when I was learning English.
There's an "r" sound, but there is no letter "r."
What?
So even though it's spelled with an "l,"
we pronounce that first "l" like an "r."
Okay, now say it with me.
See...now you're even better than I was.
Number 9 - Wednesday
I know we're going down this list, and you're probably
thinking English is strange.
And you're right. Sometimes the spelling just doesn't match with the pronunciation.
Here's another example.
In Wednesday, the "d" is silent.
So just don't say it at all.
Practice with me!
Number 10 - salmon
To be perfectly honest, this is another word
that I was guilty of mispronouncing when I first moved to the U.S.
I'd say, "I love salmon. Salmon is great."
Yeah Ioana...SALMON is great.
Okay, so now you say it with me.
Good job!
And now I'm hungry.
Number 11 - glamour
I hear this word mispronounced quite often when girls talk fashion.
They say /gluh-more/.
But it's not. It's /glam-er/.
Say it with me.
Now you know.
Number 12 - chocolate
This is my favorite word in the world.
So we should all pronounce it correctly.
It's not /chaw-koh-lot/ or /chaw-koh-leyt/.
It's /chawk-lit/.
You don't pronounce the "o" in the middle of the word.
Say it with me!
Okay. Now I'm really hungry.
Now, let's practice saying these words.
But, we're going to practice saying them in context.
I will show you some sentences using these words.
And I want you to read them aloud.
Ready? Here we go!
That's it for today. Wonderful job!
Make sure you keep practicing those words so you can
say them perfectly every time.
You can also check out our social media classes, which
will help you practice and improve your English.
Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time!